How we score films, TV, books and games

The ten dimensions

Each dimension is a spectrum between two poles. A title sits somewhere along each one.

PaceSlow to Fast

How quickly things happen: a slow burn or a rush from scene to scene.

OriginalityTried and tested to Fresh

Familiar formula and comfort, or ideas you have not seen before.

WholesomenessUnsavoury to Wholesome

The moral tone: dark, violent or seedy, or warm and good-natured.

WeightinessLight to Heavy

Easy escapism, or serious subjects that ask something of you.

RealismImaginary world to True to life

Fantasy, sci-fi and heightened worlds, or the world as it is.

IntricacySimple story to Intricate

A story you can follow with half an eye, or one with layers and puzzles.

LinearitySurreal / non-linear to Linear / logical

Told in order and logically, or dreamlike, fragmented and strange.

Style and visualsGritty to Glossy

Raw and rough-edged, or polished and stylish.

Setting and scaleSmall / confined to Big / varied

One room or one town, or many places and a big canvas.

Emotional punchUndemanding to Stirring

Low-key and easy on the feelings, or built to move you.

How titles are scored

Scores run from 0.5 to 5.5, where 3 is the middle and the average film is about 3. They are worked out once for each title, not by hand, so the same title always gets the same scores.

• Films and TV shows: fixed rules turn each title's genre, theme and keyword data into a score on each dimension, and these are combined with scores from the Boxlist taste model.
• Books: the same rules, run on Open Library subjects and the description, averaged with an AI reading of the book on the same ten dimensions. Book scores are estimates.
• Games: the same rules, run on IGDB genres, themes, keywords and summaries. There is no AI step. Game scores are estimates.

The Boxlist take only mentions a dimension when a title clearly leans one way (below 2.25 or above 3.75), with the strongest leans first. Everything else on the page, such as synopses, ratings and where to watch, comes from the sources below and is credited where it appears.

What the five match bands mean

Your match compares your ten scores with a title's, and counts the genres and themes you said you like or avoid. Bands are relative to you: the cut-offs come from how your whole catalogue scores, so a Perfect match is among the best fits for you in particular.

1. Perfect matchFits your taste on nearly everything you care about, with nothing you dislike.
2. Strong matchA good fit overall, perhaps with one or two small differences.
3. MixedSome things you like and some you do not. Worth a look if the mix appeals.
4. Weak matchMore differences than fits. Probably not your thing, but not a clash.
5. Not for youClashes with what you like, or leans on things you told us you avoid.

Data sources and credits

• TMDB: Film and TV details, genres, keywords, posters and synopses.
• JustWatch: Where to watch, by streaming service, in the UK and US.
• Open Library: Book details, subjects, descriptions and covers.
• IGDB: Game details, genres, themes, keywords, summaries and covers.

This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB. Game data from IGDB.com.

See Credits for everything else Boxlist is built on.

The same scoring is available to streaming services, publishers and game stores through the Taste API, using their own licensed metadata.